It was a very British affair for Lily Cole as she showcased the latest collection from Jean Paul Gaultier for the giant French fashion house Hermes.

The supermodel opened the Paris show wearing a leather catsuit standing inside a black-and-white striped tunnel.

Lady in leather: Lilly Cole on the catwalk

Dressed in an all-leather black catsuit, her outfit appeared to take inspiration from the character Emma Peel in the cult 1960s TV show The Avengers.

The Paris luxury house, which started off more than 160 years ago as a saddle maker, sent out leather-heavy looks that draw on their long history of technical savoir-faire with the material: trenchcoats in supple leather, croc-skin trousers and microfiber parkas with crocodile epaulettes.

Little leather skirts were worn with menswear blazers and peacoats with extra-wide crocodile belts.

A Clockwork Orange meets The Avengers: Lily Cole puts a British twist on the Paris show

Bowler hats topped off all the looks, and the other accessories - monocle necklaces and extra-long umbrellas - wouldn't have looked out of place in the wardrobe of an old-school London dandy.

Some of the models also sported rolled-up copies of The Times in their Kelly bags - the iconic handbags that are a major seller for the label.

Brolly good show: Lily Cole with Jean Paul Gaultier

French designer Jean Paul Gaultier, the one-time enfant terrible who showed his signature line earlier this week, said the collection was "very English, inspired by The City, bankers clothes revamped for the women who work there" and by the timeless symbol of British elegance, James Bond.

"It's a kind of Mrs. Bond, a Bond-ette," Gaultier told reporters after the show.